Cape Town – The battle for the Absa Premiership Golden Boot goes down to the wire with several players still in the mix ahead of the final round of matches on Saturday.
Mpumalanga Black Aces frontman Collins Mbesuma is in pole position to claim the award, but Prince Nxumalo of Ajax Cape Town is breathing down his neck.
Three other players are not entirely out of the frame, although they will need more than two goals each to challenge for the honour.
They are Thobani Mncwango, Khama Billiat and Jeremy Brockie. But Mbesuma, 32, will be the favourite to win the prize for the second time in his career.
The Zambia international, who was the league's top scorer as a rookie 11 seasons ago, has 14 goals to his name so far in 2015/16. Back then he was playing for Kaizer Chiefs and his haul of 25 goals remains a record in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) era.
His side Aces are at home to Free State Stars at the Mbombela Stadium on the final day. Urban Warriors ace Nxumalo has 13 goals and is in the best position to catch Mbesuma.
Ajax have a tough final game, though, with the league's second-best defence standing in their way. The other three players in the hunt have some tough work to do in the final round if they hope to jump to the top of the leaderboard.
Mncwango of Polokwane City has 12 goals and his side travel to Bloemfontein Celtic on the final day. The Rise and Shine striker will need a brace to match Mbesuma and a hat-trick to leapfrog him.
Mamelodi Sundowns star Billiat has been one of the standout players this season, but his 11 goals leave him with a tough job to do in their final game against Platinum Stars in Atteridgeville. Like the Zimbabwean, Jeremy Brockie of SuperSport United has to have a big game against Orlando Pirates at Orlando Stadium to claim the golden boot.
The Top-Scorers List after 29 Rounds: Collins Mbesuma (Mpumalanga Black Aces) - 14 goals Prince Nxumalo (Ajax Cape Town) - 13 Thobani Mncwango (Polokwane City) - 12 Khama Billiat (Mamelodi Sundowns) - 11 Jeremy Brockie (SuperSport United) - 11 Ndumiso Mabena (Platinum Stars) - 10 Leonardo Castro (Mamelodi Sundowns) - 10 - African News Agency (ANA)